As I talked about HERE, it was time for me to get some new storage for my expanding collection of washi tape. Just like with my PROJECT LIFE CARD STORAGE, I need cheap, easy and practical. Requirements for my washi tape storage are:

– Not expensive; no more than $20 total

– Easy to use; no pulling tape rolls off dowels, walking across the room to access them, etc.

– Practical; keeps the dust out and easy to see what I have

I looked all over Target for a new storage solution but had no luck. My next stop was MICHAELS craft store. Armed with my 40% off coupon, I was pretty confident I’d find something I loved.

And I was right! Scroll to the very bottom of this post if you can’t wait to see my final washi tape storage solution :)

But let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Here is what I started out with:

Like I said in my last post, I originally had my washi in an open tray on my desk along with my Project Life cards and embellishments. Due to dust and (ahem) outgrowing that storage, I moved the PL embellishments – icon stickers, twine, stamps, and chalk ink pads – to one of these super handy “Bag in Bag” purse organizers.

As I packed for my RETREAT in January, I threw all my washi into this extra plastic shoebox from Mike’s that I had standing by for more Project Life / MAMBI / Sn@p! card storage. Or whatever. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to keep obsessively buying more cards and need a place to store them. ‘Cuz that would be crazy when I already have so many. Um, yeah.

The washi tape rolls were easy enough to access in the shoebox above ^ while I scrapped but I wanted a better storage solution. They didn’t stay very neat and there was a lot of wasted space in there.

Let’s try something new:

At Michaels, I picked up this storage piece first. It’s an Iris Scrapbook Project Case meant for storing 12×12 pages in progress, I suppose.

Liked: It was shallow enough to mostly spread out my tapes into a single level so they’d be easy to see and access, yet the case is tall enough to close over the thicker tapes like the red and green one on the bottom right above. There’s even room to stack 2 thinner tapes.

Didn’t like: Took up too much desk space and couldn’t see washi tape color/pattern as well when they’re lying flat versus on their sides.

My other purchase from Michaels were these 2 smaller cases, and this is the solution I ended up going with. I put cool colors in one and warm in the other.

At Michaels, the 6″ x 6″ Iris Mini Project Case was $4.99 minus $2.00 with all scrapbook storage 40% off = $2.99 {didn’t even need to use my coupon!}. So there’s the “cheap” requirement fulfilled; only $6 total. You can’t beat that with a stick.

Oh my! That is one pretty washi collection, if I do say so myself. All that color and design and possibility makes me so HAPPY!

As you can see, the lids closed easily over all sizes of washi tape. My “easy to use” requirement was met – no dowels, no pulling them off of hangers or spools, etc. Just reach in, grab the roll(s) you need, and put ’em back when you’re done.

I kept the label on so you could see what exactly the item is called, in case you’d like to replicate this washi storage :) It’s so funny because looking back, I mentioned way back HERE that I loved this little case and wanted to find a use for it.

Voila! Mission accomplished!

Here are my cute little washi cases stacked together on my desk, just to the left of me as I scrap. My pretty tape is secure and protected. So my “practical” requirement is fulfilled.

To the right is the Bag in Bag I mentioned above. On top of the washi cases is a small plastic ‘shoebox’ from Mike’s with enamel dots and some smaller embellishments that didn’t fit in the Bag in Bag. That’s another cheap, easy, and practical storage solution I love <3
Hope you find this helpful! How do you store your washi tape?

As I posted HERE and HERE, I got this amazing little “Bag in Bag” on Amazon to use in my scrapbooking.

You can get one HERE. It comes in multiple colors other than the blue I chose. I realized I never posted a review as promised so here goes:

When the bag is empty, it lies flat for easy storage. This is on top of a Project Life 12×12 page protector box if that helps you gauge the size.

Here is mine with just one idea of how to fill it – I put the 3 cups I keep all my scrapbooking pens and tools in, in the center section, then used the pockets for various things like sticker packs, eraser, etc.

I took this bag to a weekend scrapbook retreat. I packed a bunch of Project Life stuff in there and it was great. At home, all my little PL gew-gaws like wood veneers, enamel dots, washi tape, corner rounder, etc. are in a tray on my desk. It was great having this bag with so many pockets to pack it all up and take it with me. I also kept my iPhone in the front mesh pocket while I scrapped and it was nice being able to see the screen in case “home” called or texted. I also used a pocket for my Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers :)

On a scrapbooking message board, a bunch of ladies ended up buying these great bags – several each in some cases – for themselves and also for inexpensive but very useful Christmas gifts, crop prizes, etc. One of the members wrote this clever Dr. Seuss-like poem to include with the bag when it’s given as a gift. I asked if I could share it on my blog and she said yes! Check this out:

What is this thing?
What makes it so great?
Why it’s a bag in bag
It’s really first rate!

Not just for ladies
It’s also for guys,
to keep your stuff tidy
and hold your supplies.

With so many pockets
and places to store,
they come in quite handy
you’ll want more!

Great for the kids
to travel with toys
and a few snacks, too
for the girls and boys.

Use one in the car,
throw one in your purse
and for the executive man
throw one in his murse!

Hold your keys and your phone
your credit card, too,
throw in a camera
for your trip to the zoo.

The bag in bag
is a wonderful size
to hold so much stuff
and keep organized!

So here it is
without further ado
this fabulous bag
Merry Christmas to you!

–copyright Kaleidoscope 2014

I told her I’d put her name on it so no one could run off with the credit, LOL!

Isn’t that the most awesome thing! Now I wish I’d followed up on my plan to get a bunch of these for Christmas gifts myself. I would definitely print the poem out on cute paper and include it with the gifts. {You are welcome to use it and do the same!}

Again, you can find the Bag in Bags HERE on Amazon. Still plenty of time to get them before Christmas or before starting Project Life in the new year.

Eventually I want to get a few more of these bags. I’m thinking one for a purse organizer, one for my travel toiletries, and another for my scraproom – inks and stamps. What would you use these bags for – any clever ideas?

Many scrappers are lucky to have Project Life in local big box stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Archivers, etc. where you can use a 40% off coupon to take a bit of sting out of the prices. But I only have a Mike’s – with a small PL selection at that – and other than refill pages, I’ve already used coupons to get the few sets I like that they carry.

Now you understand my HAPPY-NESS at finding Project Life on such a great sale at Amazon, yeah!?!?!

I also got this pretty blue BAG IN BAG like the one shown in the video above!!

It comes in other colors, including these:

OMG! My mind is going crazy with uses for these amazing little bags. First, so many ideas involving scrapbooking:

Stamping Kit: Most used stamps and inks, again portable for crops or even just to sit in front of the TV while you stamp card sentiments or page titles

Project Life Kit: Journaling cards, washi tape, wood veneers in those outside mesh pockets, corner rounder, date stamps, etc. I currently have all this stuff in a tray on my desk. How cool to be portable instead :)

Then there are all the other things you could use it for: make-up, office or bill supplies, purse contents (to make purse-switching easy or just to organize all that stuff), travel toiletries, on and on . . .

I got to thinking what great Christmas gifts they would make for all the chickies in my life. Who couldn’t find a use for a bag like this? I had to restrain myself to only one for now but I’m definitely going back for more when the budget allows.

Speaking of money, there are other vendors selling the Bag in Bag like THIS ONE. They are much cheaper – in some cases costing just a couple dollars – but make sure you check where they’re shipping from in case it’s Asia. That will take a lot longer to get here. Just a tip :) But if you’re in no hurry, it’s all good. I mistakenly ordered earbuds from Hong Kong once and it was TORTURE waiting for them to get here. After 4 weeks, I tried to cancel the order and of course couldn’t because they were already in customs or some such. Anyway, that’s why I won’t order things anymore that ship from outside the U.S. Oh, and they wouldn’t provide tracking information either. And they were (supposed to be) part of a birthday gift :(

With my Amazon Prime, I got the Bridgeport PL kit and the cute blue bag for about $20 bucks out the door. Not bad. Made my ever-lovin’, bargain-huntin’ heart so happy!

How about you? You gonna’ take advantage of the great Project Life sale or snag a Bag in Bag? Or five . . . :)

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